i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. Plus, youre never required to make any extra purchases in the first place if you take advantage of the complimentary options available on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The amount is the only thing that tends to vary on service levels. During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! I agree with Kelli. Near the end of your cruise, youll probably receive some comment cards in your stateroom that you can use to leave feedback about a member of the crew. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. Royal Caribbean raised the service fees on its ships in August by more than 10% to $16 per person per day for those staying in most cabins. By general rule of thumb, the big ship mainstream cruise lines charge it as an extra payment above and beyond the base cruise fare while luxury lines adopt an all-inclusive approach. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. It would be so helpful if I could print just the blog to read at random timescar trip, etc. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. Your email address will not be published. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service. 40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea, 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. I think it's more like when you go to a restaurant and they added the automatic service charge to the bill, but there is still a line for additional tipping. Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). When you book your cruise, youll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Hope you enjoy! 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 1 Royal Caribbean Travel Protection is an optional travel protection add-on to your cruise booking and is available through Royal Caribbean for residents in all states except New York. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. So our "big tip" on this subject is this - if you guys have a service staff problem, speak first with your cabin attendant. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? We have also taken a few of the ship's "backstage" tours and could see where the crew members reside, dine, kick back to relax, etc. Here are some daily automatic gratuity costs for several popular ocean cruise lines in USD (prices accurate as of summer 2021): Unlike with the deals you can get for prepaying for drink packages and some other add-ons, you wont get a discount for prepaying your automatic gratuities. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! Should you tip extra on a cruise? So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. Between January 2, 2018, and Sept 7, 2022, RCI's daily (per passenger) crew gratuities were US$14,50 (standard staterooms) and US$17,50 (Grand Suites+). Your previous content has been restored. Passengers sometimes plan in advance to bring small gifts to leave with their cabin stewards, either at the beginning or end of the cruise. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. Please let me know in the comments below. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Ill definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. Want to give something beyond cash? In addition, a portion of the tips are given to those who work behind the scenes or may serve you in different areas of the ship. Or do you remove them altogether? Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. Prior to your cruise, youll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. When people think of cruises,, Theres nothing quite like relaxing on a Caribbean beach with no worries in the world except deciding which tropical, A lot of cruise ship passengers will drive to their port of embarkation, whether with their own vehicle or in a ride, Royal Caribbean cruises are known for the wide-array of entertainment, dining and things to do onboard, and it got us. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much You just cant help being extra nice or helpful when you know the people are going to be extra nice to you, ie the extra tips. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. 1) Get a Free Balcony Upgrade Promotion and How to Find Them Occasionally cruise lines will run special promotions on particular ships, itineraries, and/or destinations offering balcony staterooms at the same price as an outside or inside cabin. Most cruisers tip anywhere from $2-$10 per person (or the equivalent in the local currency) to the tour guide, and hand a couple of dollars to the driver. If youre new to cruising, or its been a while since your last cruise, its important to know about cruise tipping guidelines before you sail. The tipping culture in North America and on cruise ships is flawed, but (as you mentioned) reducing or eliminating tips only hurts the hardworking crew and their families - and does nothing to change the system. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. You can post now and register later. Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Some cruise lines refer to the gratuities as a crew incentive or a service fee, but essentially these are tips for crew members that are used to augment their low wages. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 Royal Caribbean International What's Included: Dining, stateroom, and other key crew members. The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussies and ask their advice. For this reason, I have always found being expected to pay tips, on an already expensive cruise, very irritating and have sometimes had them reduced at the service desk. Your link has been automatically embedded. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Treasure Coast of Florida. Read our best tips.). The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING | Who to tip on a cruise and how much | Royal Caribbean Tipping The Weekend Cruiser 8.96K subscribers Subscribe 588 Share 10K views 8 months ago. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, its common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. Below are just some of the people you may want to tip in this way, and some rough guidelines regarding how much - though know this is very subjective, and of course should be commensurate with the level of service that a given person provided. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. Both beautiful cruise options! The Sky Suite on Celebrity was a perfect size for two, at around 320 square feet. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. Often the recommended tips, which run from about $10 to $20 per passenger per day, are published either in the cruise brochure or on the cruise line web page. This is a good question. The big three, including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean expect guests to foot the bill and tips are added to their onboard account. The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). You could also tip based on the length of the tour. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. Do you have a favorite bartender? As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. On embarkation day of my very first cruise, a porter came up to my taxi and whisked my luggage away, seconds after I got out of the car. ~ janet Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destinations local currency. Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). There are instances of passengers who prefer not to tip, usually either because they disagree with tipping on principle or they've experienced unsatisfactory service. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. Jan 6. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. The premium cruise line's fleet of 15 ships sail around the world, from the Galapagos to the Caribbean. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. Hi this was helpful, thank you. . How much to tip waiter and his assistant? There are a couple of exceptions, though. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). Could you possibly make your articles printable? We had the my time diningsame waiter and assistant every night. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! Between May 1, 2016, and Jan 2, 2018, passengers on RCI boats paid US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. Cruise Tipping and Salaries Dissected, Tipping On Cruises: Cruise Line Policies Revealed, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, Cabin Stewards on a Cruise: What to Expect, How Not to Be Rude on a Cruise: 10 Ways to Make the Crew Love You. Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. I believe that often the bartenders will pool their tips b/c there are so many working the crowd but I think it's an individual choice on their parts as to how they handle this. How Much Does A Cruise Cost? Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Cruising in 2022: Why Onboard Tipping is More Important Than Ever, Cabin Stewardess on Princess Cruises (Photo: Princess Cruises), A Cash Tip Which is Common on Cruises (Photo: elwynn/Shutterstock). Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. There was only one cruise where my sons special request was denied. Please check MSCs website for details. Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_20',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');In for-a-fee specialty dining restaurants, you might see a spot on your bill (if you get one) to add a tip. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. We usually do the prepaid tipping and also give some extra at the end of our cruises. If not, just leave blank. In the UK, tips are completely discretionary and are only to reward service that goes above the normal expectations. You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. For both of us, we usually tip between $30-$50 for head waiter, and slightly less for assistant waiter and then even slightly less for the drink waiter (as we are non-drinkers but still want to. Your email address will not be published. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. Tips are of course a personal decision. Most US lines that base ships in the UK over the summer -- Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, for example -- offer automated gratuity options that charge a standard daily gratuity fee to the credit card you've placed on file for each day of your cruise. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Another drink package option for Royal Caribbean cruisers is the Classic Soda package, which includes fountain soda and refills at any venue, Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and even a Coca-Cola souvenir cup. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. On luxury cruise lines, such as Azamara, Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea, Tauck World Discovery and Uniworld, gratuities are already included in the cost of the cruise, and additional tipping is not expected. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. Ren de Lambert. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. Note that paying in cash does not necessarily circumvent the pooling system -- attendants are officially required to turn in any cash gratuities to put toward the pool. Love this! raahc and lovecruising!!! Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity. Pasted as rich text. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. Something to note is that although daily gratuities arent charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. We never gave him anything. Each person you tip gets their own envelope. There may be cases where you'd like to tip your cabin steward more than what he or she will receive after your automated gratuity is pooled and shared out. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Children under 4 are not charged. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. Manchester 3. How much do people tip a Royal Genie? In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. While planning a, The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too? The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . How much cash should you bring on a cruise? Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Related: Cruise Line. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. Tipping on a cruise ship isnt mandatory, but it is customary, and many crew members rely on tips as a large part of their income. Travelers in suites are. Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, theyre very well-liked. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. The cruise line makes no recommendation for tipping room service. Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised, Follow me onYouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips), Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised, Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised. As I am sure you are aware each cruiser will have gratuities & tips added to their SeaPass account every day (unless you have paid these in advance with your booking). Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Thanks for sharing your view on this. 4 Ways to Tip Extra on a Non-Tipping Cruise Ship, What to Expect on a Cruise: Onboard Spending, Service on a Luxury Cruise: What to Expect. It was just the two of us. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. Thanks! However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. Cruise lines pay these workers very low wages for the long hours that they work each day, and expect that passengers will tip to increase the crew members earnings to a reasonable rate. However, you might end up paying a similar total price on a mainstream line when you factor in gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions, and the like. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. If mainstream cruise lines decided to abolish tipping and pay all crew members a reasonable rate per hour, they would have to significantly raise the cost of cruise fares.
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